Borno was written off. Governor Babagana Zulum refused the script.
He went to the front, funded the troops and Civilian JTF, reopened towns and shut camps.
He did not stop at security. Schools went back up, enrolment jumped, hospitals and clinics were rebuilt, and roads, houses and public buildings rose where Boko Haram had left rubble.
That is why the awards followed: recovery under fire, in security, education, health and infrastructure. Here they are, one by one.
1. Niger Republicβs second-highest national honour, Grand Officer of the National Order, from President Bazoum, for refugee support and the cross-border fight against Boko Haram. Daily Trust.
2. 2026 Quintessence Pan-African Top Leadership Award, New Jersey. Organisers called him the first northern Nigerian governor to receive it. Daily Trust and the Federal Ministry of Information.
3. Forbes African Leadership Award, 2024. Federal Ministry of Information and New Telegraph.
4. UN SDGs Global Champion, April 2025, NGO Founders Global Network, Munich, for rebuilding, schools, health and livelihoods. New Telegraph. An NGO award tied to the SDGs, not a UN appointment.
5. African Governor of the Year, Education and People Development, 2023, African Leadership Magazine. New Telegraph.
6. African Public Service Excellence Award, Accra, February 2026, African Leadership Organisation, for governance that did not surrender to the insurgency.
7. Nurse-Friendly Governor Award, 2026 Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Conference, Abuja, for health investment and IDP housing.
8. Honorary Doctor of Letters, Afe Babalola University, 2021, for courage and service. Dateline Nigeria.
9. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Lagos State University, 2022, for community and youth development. Daily Trust.
10. Honorary Doctor of Technology, FUTO, December 2024.
11. Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Maiduguri, November 2025, for leadership on education, security and recovery.
12. University of Ibadan Alumnus of the Year 2020 and Most Distinguished Alumnus. Fifth recipient since 1973. Daily Trust.
13. Tell Governor of the Year 2020, Vanguard Personality of the Year 2020, Leadership Personality of the Year 2020, and the Zik Prize for Leadership 2020. Daily Trust.
14. BusinessDay Governor of the Year 2021, and BusinessDay SCIRA Best Performing Governor, Infrastructure Competitiveness, 2025/26. Leadership.
15. New Telegraph Governor of the Year 2024, for reconstruction, the economy and security.
16. Nigerian NewsDirect Governor of the Year 2024.
17. Leadership Excellence Awards Best Governor of the Year 2022, by public vote.
18. EMAN Honorary Fellowship and Distinguished Service Award, 2024, for flood response, the Great Green Wall and climate work.
19. Society of Nigerian Broadcasters Award of Excellence, November 2025, for press freedom and rebuilding. Independent.
20. Lifetime Humanitarian Hero Award, Humanitarian Service Diamond Awards. Daily Trust.
He is also Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and a Member of the National Institute (mni).
@Millishield01@TUNDEparody2394 Haaaa! Oga Milli this stand today to cause wahala plus dragging o. Just leave this discussion out abeg, lets be doing Burkina faso and canada business.
@drix2256@stunnaisatopboy I tell u... one region voted over 90% for their tribesman, even beating people for voting other candidates. Irony is, they are all over SM spaces calling people tribal bigots. I wont even ask what tribe you are.
@Millishield01@AmodaOgunlere Oga. Why you carry bomb come arena wey people dey share slap? Anyway, I know you have been very tolerant here. If you block this person, e clear say the person really don overdo. Election no be war
@SamuelOmogor His own choice of enjoyment is being president over YOU, and he is doing just that. Chose your own and let him be, abi that one is difficult too. Oga chose your own old age plan wisely o